Additives which improve the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels are the reaction products of (1) diols, and (2) the product of pyromellitic dianhydride and combinations of two or more different aminoalcohols with long-chain hydrocarbyl groups attached....http://www.google.com/patents/US5492545?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5492545 - Reacting pyromellitic dianhydride with amino alcohol, latter being product of an epoxide and secondary amine, followed by reaction with alkylene diol

Reacting pyromellitic dianhydride with amino alcohol, latter being product of an epoxide and secondary amine, followed by reaction with alkylene diolUS 5492545 A

Abstract

Additives which improve the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels are the reaction products of (1) diols, and (2) the product of pyromellitic dianhydride and combinations of two or more different aminoalcohols with long-chain hydrocarbyl groups attached.

Images(7)

Claims(26)

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid hydrocarbyl fuel oligomer/polymer additive product of reaction obtained by reacting in different ratios a secondary amine and at least one C8 to C30 epoxide thereby forming at least one aminoalcohol having the formula: ##STR5## and (2) thereafter reacting the product of (1) with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) or its acid equivalent and a secondary amine having the formula ##STR6## thereby forming a reactive acid/anhydride that is reacted with at least one hydrocarbyl diol or polyhydrocarbyl diol where said hydrocarbyl diol has the formula

HO--R5 --OH

where R2 is C1 to C100 hydrocarbyl; R1 and R3 are C8 to C30 saturated or unsaturated linear hydrocarbyl wherein said differing ratios are less than molar ratios, molar ratios and more than molar ratios and where the temperature of reaction varies from about 100° C. to 250° C., at a pressure of from about 0.001 atm to about 1 atm for a time sufficient to obtain said additive product.

2. The product of claim 1 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine which may be the same or different from said di(hydrogenated tallow) amine and further reacting with 1,2-octadecanediol.

3. The product of claim 1 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine which may be the same or different from said di(hydrogenated tallow) amine and further reacting with 1,4-butanediol.

4. The product of claim 1 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine which may be the same or different from said di(hydrogenated tallow) amine and further reacting with 1,12-dodecanediol.

5. The product of claim 1 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine which may be the same or different from said di(hydrogenated tallow) amine and further reacting with poly(ethyleneglycol).

6. The product of claim 5 wherein the poly(ethyleneglycol) has an average M.W. of 400.

7. The product of claim 1 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine which may be the same or different from said di(hydrogenated tallow) amine and further reacting with poly(propyleneglycol).

8. The product of claim 7 wherein the poly(propyleneglycol) has an average M.W. 2000.

9. A fuel composition comprising a major amount of a liquid hydrocarbyl fuel and a minor amount comprising from about 0.001 wt % to about 10 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of an oligomer/polymer additive product of reaction obtained by reacting in differing ratios (1) a secondary amine and at least one C8 to C30 epoxide thereby forming at least one aminoalcohol having the formula: ##STR7## and (2) thereafter reacting the product of (1) with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) or its acid equivalent and a secondary amine having the formula ##STR8## thereby forming a reactive acid/anhydride that is reacted with at least one hydrocarbyl diol or polyhydrocarbyl diol where said hydrocarbyl diol has the formula

HO--R5 --OH

where R2 is C1 to C100 hydrocarbyl; R1 and R3 are C8 to C30 saturated or unsaturated linear hydrocarbyl wherein said differing ratios are less than molar ratios, molar ratios and more than molar ratios and where the temperature of reaction varies from about 100° C. to 250° C. at a pressure of from about 0.001 atm to about 1 atm for a time sufficient to obtain said additive product.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said additive product is obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine and further reacting with 1,2-octadecanediol.

11. The composition of claim 9 wherein said additive product is obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine and further reacting with 1,4-butanediol.

12. The composition of claim 9 wherein said product is obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine and further reacting with 1,12-dodecanediol.

13. The composition of claim 9 wherein said additive product is obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine and further reacting with poly(ethyleneglycol).

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the poly(ethyleneglycol) has an average M.W. of 400.

15. The composition of claim 9 obtained by reacting together di(hydrogenated tallow) amine with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane, and thereafter reacting the resultant aminoalcohol with pyromellitic dianhydride and an amine and further reacting with poly(propyleneglycol).

16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the poly(propyleneglycol) has an average M.W. 2000.

17. The composition of claim 9 wherein the fuel is a distillate fuel.

18. The composition of claim 17 wherein the distillate fuel is selected from fuel oils.

20. The composition of claim 19 wherein the fuel oil is a heating fuel oil.

21. The composition of claim 19 wherein the fuel oil is a diesel fuel oil.

22. The composition of claim 9 wherein said minor proportion comprises from about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

23. A concentrate solution of 100 milliters total volume suitable for use in preparing liquid hydrocarbyl fuels comprising an inert hydrocarbon solvent and 10 grams of an additive product as claimed in claim 1 dissolved therein.

24. The solution of claim 23 wherein said solvent is xylene or mixed xylenes.

25. A process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbyl fuel oligomer/polymer additive product of reaction comprising reacting in differing ratios (1) a secondary amine and at least one C8 to C30 epoxide thereby forming at least one aminoalcohol having the formula: ##STR9## and (2) thereafter reacting the product of (1) with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) or its acid equivalent and a secondary amine having the formula ##STR10## thereby forming a reactive acid/anhydride that is reacted with at least one hydrocarbyl diol or polyhydrocarbyl diol where said hydrocarbyl diol has the formula

HO--R5 --OH

where R2 is C1 to C100 hydrocarbyl; R1 and R3 are C8 to C30 saturated or unsaturated linear hydrocarbyl and R5 is C2 to C100 hydrocarbyl wherein said differing ratios are less than molar ratios, molar ratios and more than molar ratios and where the temperature of reaction varies from about 100° C to 250° C., at a pressure of from about 0.001 atm to an atm for a time sufficient to obtain said additive product.

26. A method of improving the low temperature properties of a liquid hydrocarbyl fuel comprising adding thereto a minor amount of from about 0.001 wt % to about 10 wt % based on total weight of the composition of an additive product as claimed in claim 1.

Description

This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 08/121,092 filed on Sep. 14, 1993, now abandoned, which is continuation of Ser. No. 07/744,127, filed on Aug. 13, 1991 now abandoned, which is a divisional of 07/449,183, filed on Dec. 13, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,306 that issued on Aug. 13, 1991.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is directed to multifunctional additives derived from diols and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) reaction products and to fuel compositions containing same or more particular to distillate fuel compositions containing same.

Traditionally, the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels have been improved by the addition of kerosene, sometimes in very large amounts (5-70 wt %). The kerosene dilutes the wax in the fuel, i.e., lowers the overall weight fraction of wax, and thereby lowers the cloud point, filterability temperature, and pour point simultaneously. The additives of this invention effectively lower both the cloud point and CFPP of distillate fuel without any appreciable dilution of the wax component of the fuel.

Other additives known in the art have been used in lieu of kerosene to improve the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels. Many such additives are polymeric materials with pendent fatty hydrocarbon groups, and are usually derived from the free radical polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons (olefins, acrylates, fumarates, etc.). These additives are limited in their range of activity, however; most improve fuel properties by lowering the pour point and/or filterability temperature. These same additives have little or not effect on the cloud point of the fuel.

Applicants to the best of their knowledge are unaware of any art that teaches or suggests the additive products disclosed herein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,007, for example, discloses the use of polycarboxylic acids/anhydrides such as PMDA (pyromellitic dianhydride) reacted with ether capped alcohols to provide demulsifying additives for lubricants.

The additives of this invention are substantially different, however, both in terms of structure and function. They are oligomeric and/or polymeric materials obtained via condensation reactions, e.g., the reaction of diols with acids and/or anhydrides. In terms of activity, these additives effectively lower distillate fuel cloud point, thus providing improved low-temperature fuel properties, and offering a unique and useful advantage over known distillate fuel additives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Novel oligomeric/polymeric pyromellitate esters and ester/amides have been prepared and have been found to be suprisingly active wax crystal modifier additives for distillate fuels. Distillate fuel compositions containing minor amounts of such additives demonstrate significantly improved low-temperature flow properties, with lower cloud point and lower CFPP filterability temperature.

These oligomeric/polymeric additives are the reaction products derived from two types of monomer components. The first monomer type is a diol, either alone or in combination with other diols. The second monomer type is the reactive acid/anhydride product, either alone or in combination with other such monomers, derived from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with either (a) an aminoalcohol, the product of an amine and an epoxide, or (b) a combination of an aminoalcohol (above, a) and an amine.

These new additives are especially effective in lowering the cloud point of distillate fuels, and thus improve the low-temperature flow properties of such fuels without the use of any light hydrocarbon diluent, such as kerosene. In addition, the filterability properties are improved as demonstrated by lower CFPP temperatures. Thus, the additives of this invention demonstrate multifunctional activity in distillate fuels.

The additive compositions, described herein have cloud point activity and CFPP activity and are unique in structure and activity. The additive concentrates and fuel compositions containing such additives are also unique. Similarly, the processes for making these additives, additive concentrates, and fuel compositions are unique.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The additives of this invention have oligomeric (i.e. dimers, trimers, etc.) and/or polymeric structures. Various hydrocarbyl groups, especially groups with linear paraffinic substructures attached, are distributed along the backbone of the oligomer and/or polymer, and may be carried by either or both of the comonomers used.

One of the comonomers, alone or in combination, used in the synthesis of these additives is a diol. Any diol may be used in this invention and suitable diols may encompass, but are not limited to, examples of the following types: 1,2-diols, 1,5-diols, 1,4-diols, alpha-omega-diols, ether diols, polyether diols, glyceryl monoesters, and any other hydrocarbyl diols. Highly suitable diols include but are not limited to 1,2-octadecanediol, 1,4-butane-diol, 1,12-dodecanediol, poly(ethyleneglycol), poly (propyleneglycol).

The other comonomer used, alone or in combination, in the synthesis of these additives is a reactive acid and/or anhydride derived from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) or its acid equivalent, and suitable pendant groups derived from alcohols and amines with some combination of linear hydrocarbyl groups attached. These pendant groups include (a) aminoalcohols, derived from a secondary amine capped with an olefin epoxide, (b) combinations of the aminalcohol from (a) and an amine, and (c) combinations of two or more different aminoalcohols. Preferred amines are secondary amines such as di(hydrogenated tallow) amine. Preferred epoxides are such epoxides as 1,2-epoxyoctadecane.

The additives of this invention are the reaction products obtained by combining the two monomer types described above in differing ratios using standard esterification techniques according to the following stepwise procedure: ##STR1##

For example a general structure for the oligomers/polymers derived from PMDA partial ester and diol is as follows: ##STR2##

A general structure for the oligomers/polymers derived from PMDA mixed partial ester and diol is as follows: ##STR3##

A general structure for the oligomers/polymers derived from PMDA partial ester/amide and diol is as follows: ##STR4## Where: x=y+z=0.5 to about 3.5, and preferably 1 to about 3.

The process in accordance with this invention can conveniently take place in a single pot reaction wherein a suitable amine and an epoxide are first reacted and thereafter the PMDA and a suitable diol are added to the reaction zone.

More than molar, less than molar or substantially molar quantitives of the various reactants may be used. Generally the reaction takes place under standard esterification conditions which may, however, vary widely as to temperature, time and pressure. The temperature may vary from 100° to 250° C., preferably 150° to 200° C., the pressure may vary from 0,001 atm to 10 atm and preferably 0.001 atm to 1 atm. The reaction time for the overall process may vary from 1 to 24 to 36 to 48 hours or more.

In general, the reaction products of the present invention may be employed in fuel compositions in any amount effective for imparting thereto the desired degree of activity to improve the low temperature characteristics of distillate fuels. In many applications the products are effectively employed in amounts from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight and preferably from less than 0.1% to about 5% of the total weight of the composition. These additives may be used in conjunction with other known low-temperature fuel additives (dispersants, etc.) being used for their intended purpose.

The fuels contemplated are liquid hydrocarbon combustion fuels, including the distillate fuels and fuel oils. Accordingly, the fuel oils that may be improved in accordance with the present invention are hydrocarbon fractions having an initial boiling point of at least about 250° F. and an end-boiling point no higher than about 750° F. and boiling substantially continuously throughout their distillation range. Such fuel oils are generally known as distillate fuel oils. It is to be understood, however, that this term is not restricted to straight run distillate fractions. The distillate fuel oils can be straight run distillate fuel oils, catalytically or thermally cracked (including hydrocracked) distillate fuel oils, or mixtures of straight run distillate fuel oils, naphthas and the like, with cracked distillate stocks. Moreover, such fuel oils can be treated in accordance with well-known commercial methods, such as, acid or caustic treatment, hydrogenation, solvent refining, clay treatment, etc.

The distillate fuel oils are characterized by their relatively low viscosities, pour points, and the like. The principal property which characterize the contemplated hydrocarbons, however, is the distillation range. As mentioned hereinbefore, this range will lie between about 250° F. and about 750° F. Obviously, the distillation range of each individual fuel oil will cover a narrower boiling range falling, nevertheless, within the above-specified limits. Likewise, each fuel oil will boil substantially continuously throughout its distillation range.

Contemplated among the fuel oils are Nos. 1, 2 and 3 fuel oils used in heating and as diesel fuel oils, and the jet combustion fuels. The domestic fuel oils generally conform to the specification set forth in A.S.T.M. Specifications D396-48T. Specifications for diesel fuels are defined in A.S.T.M. Specification D975-48T, Typical jet fuels are defined in Military Specification MIL-F-5624B.

The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Di(hydrogenated tallow) amine (49.9 g, 0.10 mol), and 1,2-epoxyoctadecane (33.6 g, 0.125 mol) were combined and heated at 170° C. for 18 hours. Pyromellitic dianhydride (8.00 g, 0.037 mol), 1,12-dodecanediol (3.37 g, 0.017 mol; e.g. from Aldrich Chemical Company), and xylene (approximately SO ml) were added and heated at reflux (190° to 200° C.) with azeotropic removal of water for 24 hours. Volatiles were then removed from the reaction medium at 190° to 200° C., and the reaction mixture was hot filtered through diatomaceous earth to give 87.1 g of the final product.

A concentrate solution of 100 ml total volume was prepared by dissolving 10 g of additive in mixed xylenes solvent. Any insoluble particulates in the additive concentrate were removed by filtration before use.

Test Procedures

The cloud point of the additized distillate fuel was determined using two procedures:

(a) an automatic cloud point test based on the equipment/procedure detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,303; the test designation (below) is "AUTO CP".

(b) an automatic cloud point test based on the commercially available Herzog cloud point tester; the test designation (below) is "HERZOG."

The low-temperature filterability was determined using the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) test. This test procedure is described in Journal of the Institute of Petroleum, Volume 32, Number 510, June 1966, pages 173-185.

The test data clearly illustrate the improved low-temperature characteristics of distillate fuels which incorporate minor amounts of the novel additive products of this invention.

Although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims.